Thianthrenium-Enabled Phosphorylation of Aryl C–H Bonds via Electron Donor–Acceptor Complex Photoactivation

An efficient strategy for the preparation of aryl phosphonates via blue-light-promoted single electron transfer process of an EDA complex between phosphites and thianthrenium salts has been demonstrated. The corresponding substituted aryl phosphonates were obtained in good to excellent yields, and the byproduct thianthrene can be recovered and reused in quantity. This developed method realizes the construction of aryl phosphonates through the indirect C–H functionalization of arenes, which has potential application value in drug discovery and development.